The Best & Worst Muffins at Fast-Food Restaurants

Find out how to choose the healthiest fast-food muffin.

Even the most cursory glance at the nutrition info for various fast-food muffins will show you that there is at times a
massive discrepancy between the healthiest and least healthy option. While some can make a good on-the-go breakfast,
others pack in close to half of your saturated fat allotment for the day, while offering very little nutritionally in
return. Simply put, it pays to know what you're about to bite into.

Here is a comparison of some of the top fast-food chains' healthiest and least healthy muffins on their current menus.

—Matthew Thompson, Associate Food Editor, EatingWell Magazine

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1. McDonald's

McDonald's is rolling out a new line of baked goods, which includes danishes, scones and, of course, muffins. Depending
on how well the offerings fare in New England, they're considering national availability.

McDonald's Multi-Grain Berry Muffin (pictured) is a pleasant surprise: it has the lowest calorie count of all the muffins
we looked at and boasts a healthy 6 grams of fiber. Watch out for their Blueberry Muffin, however, which packs in 45% of
the daily value of saturated fat (based on a 2,000-calorie diet).

5. Dunkin' Donuts

There are actually two healthy muffin options at Dunkin' Donuts. Their Reduced Fat Blueberry Muffin (pictured) is their
absolute lowest calorie option, but we'd also recommend their Honey Bran Raisin muffin. You'll get the same amount of
protein as their least healthy option (the Coffee Cake muffin) but you'll save 150 calories and 5.5 grams of saturated
fat, plus you get 3 more grams of fiber, which will help you feel satisfied through the morning.

6. Panera Bread

Panera Bread's best option, the Wild Blueberry Muffin (pictured), essentially delivers the same amount of protein and
fiber as their least-healthy version, the Pumpkin muffin, but clocks in at 150 fewer calories and 150 mg less sodium,
plus 1 gram less saturated fat. One other thing we like at Panera is their offering of "muffies"—half-size muffins in
select flavors that allow you to indulge in a controlled way.